Gas or vapor engine



7 (NdModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. G. B. & W. B.'GRAY..

GAS 0R .VAPDR ENGINE.

- N0. 287,666. Patented Oct. 30, 1,883

-- MIN/T755555- a N. PETERS. Phumuhn n hnr. Washington. ac.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. B. 8: W. B. GRAY.

GAS OR VAPOR ENGINE.

No. 287,666. Patentd 001:. so, 1883.

3 Am :A v

ELIEHZ ErS Wa k; E 5 .525

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

. GARDNER B. GRAY AND WILLIAM B. GRAY, or OARDINGTON, OHIO.

, GAS OR VAP/OR E NGlN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,666, dated October30, 1883.

' Application filed May 23, 1883. (No model.)

Our invention relateslto an improvement in gas or vapor engines; and itconsists in the combination of the cylinder-heads provided with suitableports, inwardly-opening valves, levers for opening the valves, andspring-actuated pins, which are carried back and forth by the piston,for the purpose of alternately opening the valves to allow a portion ofthe explosive mixture to enter the ignition-chamber.

It still further consists in the arrangement and combination of partswhich will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of our invention is to provide a cheap and simple enginewhich can be oper= ated wherever gas or vapor can'be obtained, and inwhich the piston is driven back and forth by explosions in each end ofthe cylinder.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an engine embodying ourinvention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail viewsof the valves in the ends ofthe cylinder-heads. Fig. 4 is a detail I view, showing theexhaust-valves. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of our invention complete.

A represents the cylinder, in which the piston B, provided with theusual packing-rings, moves back and forth. This cylinder may be inclosedin an outer inclosing case or shell,

W, as shown, or may be constructed in any suitable manner. The pistonhas two recesses, X, formed on opposite sides, and which are coveredover by means of perforated plates. In these recesses X are placed theinner ends of the headed pins T and suitable spiral springs. I 'As thepiston moves back and-forth,

when near the end of its stroke, these pins T are made to strike againstthe levers S, which are attached attheir upper ends to the lower ends ofthe valves B. These valves R are hung or pivoted upon the inner sides ofthe cylinder-heads G, and are alternately made to a 4 open at eachstroke of the piston. The cylinder-heads O are provided with recesses Y,in

which the explosive compound is compressed as the piston moves in thatdirection, and are provided with the .ports M and the passages leadingto the ignition-chambers 0. To the ports M are connected the pipes L,which are connected with an air compressor or pump at their outer ends.The gas or vapor passes toward the cylinder through the pipes N, and

the passage between the pipes N and L is controlled by thespring-actuated valves D. These valves are held closed by means of thesprings which are applied to their stems, and only open to allow the gasto pass through the ports M with the air into the ends of the cyl inder,when the valves are alternately opened by the endwise-moving rod or bar'E, which is journaled in suitable bearings, H. Leading from thegas-pipe N, or from any other source,

are the small pipes P, through which enough as or vapor passes to keep alighted flame constantly burning I just below the ignitionohamber 0while the engine is in operation. The bar E is operated by an eccentricon the main shaft of the engine through the rod F and the rocker-arm G.Thisbar E slides back and forth in the bearings H, and at the same timeis free to revolve. Secured to each end of the bar is a cam, I, having abeveled face,

as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and which cams I alternately openthe spring-valves D, for the purpose of allowing the gas to flow intothe cylinder. Placed upon this bar E is an arm, J, which is feathered tothe bar, so that while the bar slides back and forth through the arm J,which is held in place, the bar cannot turn without the movement of thearm J at the same time. On the outer end of the arm J, as shown in Fig.1, is attached the rod which extends from the governor, which may be ofany construction that may be preferred. When the action of the enginebecomes too rapid and the governor pulls upward upon the arm J, the rodE is turned in such a position that the cams I do not strike the outerends of the spring-valves D, and hence no gas or vapor is admittedintothe ends of the cylinder until the speed of the engine has beenreduced, when the downward movement of the governor-rod again turns thebar E in such a position that the cam will alternately strike againstthe valves D and allow the gas to flow into the cylinder. The casing ofthe admission-valves is held to its seat at 3 3 by the spiral springsbeneath the nuts 2 2, the object being to allow the casings to be liftedfrom their seat if there should be any overpressure in the cylinder, andthus allow the explosive compound to escape into the open air. At eachend of the cylinder there is an exhaust-valve, Z, which are alternatelyoperatedby the cranks V, which are attached to the rod U, which isoperated by an eccentric on the main shaft of the engine. As the rod Umoves back and forth the cranks V alternately force the valves Z inward,so as to let the air which is being forced in through the ports M toescape. There will be suitable check-valves in the air-pipes close tothe valve-casings, to relieve the pump from the force of the explosionwhen the gases are ignited in the cylinder. 7

Either ordinary illuminating-gas or vapor which may be generated fromany hydrocarbon may be used in the operation of the engine, as we do notlimit ourselves in this respect. The gas may be forced through the pipesN by means of a pump, by hydraulic pressure, or in any other way thatmay be preferred.

The operation of our invention is as follows: The explosive compoundhaving been ignited in one end of the cylinder, the exhaust-valve in theopposite end of the cylinder opens and the piston is driven forward. Atthe same time the air-pump forces air through the pipe L into thecylinder, and this air is allowed to pass out through the openexhaust-valve until near the end of the stroke of the piston,when theexhaust-valve closes, and the admissionvalve is opened by the movementof the sliding bar E, carrying the cam I against the end of thevalve-stem V, admitting gas or vapor from the pipe end. This gas orvapor passes into the cylinder, mixes with the air passing through thepipe L, and forms a combustible compound. As the piston nearly reachesthe end of its stroke the spring-pin T in the pistonhead presses againstthe lower end of the lever S and raises the check-valve R ashortdistance from its seat, and permits a small quantity of the explosivecompound to enter the ignition-chamber 0, where, in escaping through asmall opening in the wall of the chamber, it comes in contact with theflame from the pipe 1?, or a lamp, and where it is ignited, when theexplosion takes place in the chamber 0. This explosion forces thecheck-valve R from its seat, and, driving a quantity of the flame intothe cylinder, causes an explosion there, and this explosion both closesthe valve and drives the piston toward the other end of the cylinder atthe same time. It will be observed that this engine is worked from eachend of the cylinder and an explosion takes place at every stroke.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. The combination of thepiston carrying spring-actuated pins with the cheek-valves placed insideof the cylinder, suitable levers for opening the valves, theignition-chambers, and means for igniting the gas in the chambers,substantially as shown.

2. In a gas or vapor engine, the combination, with the exhaust-valvesand the mechanism for alternately operating them, of the check-valves R,the piston and suitable means connected with the piston for operatingthe check-valves, the spring-actuated valves D, the pipes L N, and amechanism, substantially as shown, for operating the valves D and theignition-chanr bers, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

Vitnesses:

L. G. GROSBETY, O. E. TERRY.

